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Defining
a Data Source is typically the first step we take with an Analysis
Services Project. A project can have multiple Data Sources, within
which we are essentially defining the connection string used to connect
to the actual sources of our data. While we can define connections to source
databases on remote computers in the business environment, we will, in this
article, be working with one of the sample databases that are available to us
when we install MSSQL Server 2005, the AdventureWorksDW database.

Let's create
a Data Source within our new ANSYS040 Data Source View project by taking the following steps:

1.
Right-click Data
Sources folder within the Solution Explorer.

2.
Select New
Data Source from the context menu that appears, as depicted in Illustration
9.

Illustration 9: Initial
Step in Creating a New Data Source

The
Data Source Wizard appears, opening with the Welcome to the Data
Source Wizard page, as shown in Illustration 10.

Illustration 10: Welcome
to the Data Source Wizard ...

3.
Click Next.

The
Select how to define the connection page appears. This page allows us
to define a Data Source based upon a new or existing connection. It also
allows us to base a Data Source upon a connection that has been
previously created, as long as the existing Data Source definition
exists within the same project, or within another project housed
in the same solution within which we are currently working.

6.
Type the
appropriate server name / server name with instance into the Server name
box.

We can substitute "localhost"
or "localhost\<instance name>" here, if it is
appropriate to our environment.

7.
Select / complete
the appropriate authentication choice for your environment in the section
labeled Log on to the server (I selected the radio button to the left of
Use Windows Authentication in the lab environment in which I prepared
this article).

8.
Type the
appropriate server name / server name with instance name into the Server
name box.

9.
Select
AdventureWorksDW in the Select or enter a database name selector
box, within the Connect to a database section of the dialog.

The
Connection Manager dialog appears similar to that depicted in
Illustration 11.

Illustration 11: Connection
Manager Dialog in My Lab Environment

10. Click the Test Connection
button (in the bottom left corner of the Connection Manager dialog) to
ascertain that we have a valid connection.

We receive a positive
confirmation message, Test connection succeeded, assuming settings in
the dialog are in accordance with the above steps, as appropriate for our own
environments. The confirmation message box appears as shown in Illustration
12.